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MAFIA Bags Sail Into California

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JULY 23, 2014

From the Robb Report Luxury Newswire

MAFIA Bags, a design and manufacturing company specializing in handmade backpacks, totes, bags and accessories made from recycled sails, has announced its expansion into the United States, opening its flagship U.S. facility in San Francisco. Founded in 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, MAFIA Bags is the brainchild of brother-sister duo Marcos and Paz Mafia, who wanted to share their passion for nature, appreciation for living a simple life, and commitment to making a social impact with others.

“While we’ve made a significant contribution in South America, our goal is to continue making a difference in the U.S. and around the world,” said Marcos Mafia, Co-Founder and CEO of MAFIA Bags. “Local production and job creation are at the foundation of our business model. We are proud to not only offer a product that is made in America, but to provide employment for the Bay Area community and recruit members to join our family.”

Authentically designed for worldly spirits and adventurous souls, each MAFIA product is a fashionable representation of simplicity, functionality and personal expression. MAFIA’s product lines boast vibrant colors, contrasting textures, and exposed stitching. Whereby no item is exactly the same, MAFIA bags are naturally exclusive in design and impossible to replicate.

All merchandise is handmade from repurposed kitesurf, windsurf and boat sails, ensuring that every bag, backpack, wallet, or keychain is truly one-of-a-kind. The sail's previous life on the water is apparent in the natural markings of the fabric, serving as a subtle but significant reminder to consumers that there is a background story unique to each product. By simply carrying a MAFIA bag, consumers are promoting social responsibility and contributing to environmental sustainability throughout their daily lives.

“The ocean and outdoors have brought me good fortune and such happiness throughout my entire life,” said Marcos. A professional kitesurfer, Marcos is an accomplished athlete who participates in competitions in South America and worldwide, and earned the prestigious title of the Argentine Kitesurf Champion in 2011 at just 22 years of age. “The purity of our special environment inspires me, and the entire MAFIA family, every single day. MAFIA Bags is our way of returning nature the favor.”

MAFIA Bags will soon be available for purchase in the U.S. via the brand’s retail website. The experience of buying a MAFIA product is unique in itself; MAFIA representatives are committed to finding the perfect design to match the wants and needs of each consumer, ensuring a distinctive connection between the buyer and the bag at the point of purchase.

MAFIA currently maintains relationships with various retail partners throughout Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, and Chile. Since its arrival in San Francisco, the company is actively seeking out select partners in the Bay Area for wholesale and retail to come this fall, including design stores, surf shops and museums.

As part of the U.S. launch, MAFIA has introduced a month-long Kickstarter campaign, providing a first opportunity for consumers to pre-buy MAFIA bags and accessories while helping to bring the creative project to life. Through Kickstarter, contributors have the opportunity to make MAFIA’s vision a reality and, in turn, own original MAFIA products and become part of MAFIA’s lasting community. MAFIA’s Kickstarter campaign will run until July 25, 2014.

To donate a sail, please email sailsforchange@mafiabags.com and the MAFIA team will repurpose your contribution into MAFIA merchandise. In gratitude for the donation, the contributor will receive a free MAFIA product made from that very sail. MAFIA Bags is B Corporation Certified.